Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 229 invitations to apply for permanent residence in an Express Entry category-based selection round for physicians with Canadian work experience on September 3, 2026.
The lowest-ranked candidate invited had a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 198.
To be considered with the minimum score, candidates needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before the tie-breaking cutoff of August 6, 2026, at 7:40 p.m. UTC.
The official results can be reviewed on IRCC’s Express Entry rounds of invitations page.
September 3 Physician Draw Results
| Draw detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Draw date | September 3, 2026 |
| Category | Physicians with Canadian work experience |
| Invitations issued | 229 |
| Minimum CRS score | 198 |
| Tie-breaking rule | August 6, 2026, at 7:40 p.m. UTC |
The tie-breaking rule applies when more than one eligible candidate has the minimum score. A candidate with exactly 198 points needed to have created their Express Entry profile before the specified cutoff.
Candidates with scores above 198 were not affected by the tie-break, but they still needed to satisfy every requirement of the physician category and an Express Entry-managed immigration program.
Comparison With Earlier Physician Draws
This was the third Express Entry round of 2026 specifically targeting physicians with Canadian work experience.
| Draw date | Invitations issued | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|
| September 3, 2026 | 229 | 198 |
| June 24, 2026 | 271 | 223 |
| February 19, 2026 | 391 | 169 |
Compared with the June 24 round:
- The number of invitations decreased from 271 to 229.
- IRCC issued 42 fewer invitations.
- The minimum CRS score decreased from 223 to 198.
- The cutoff fell by 25 points.
The September round had the smallest invitation total among the three physician selections held in 2026. Its CRS cutoff was lower than the June round but higher than the February selection.
These results do not establish a guaranteed pattern. The size and cutoff of future rounds will depend on IRCC’s selection decisions and the ranking of eligible profiles in the Express Entry pool.
Who Is Eligible for the Physician Category?
The category is specifically for physicians who have qualifying Canadian work experience.
According to IRCC, a candidate must have accumulated, during the previous three years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience or an equivalent amount of part-time experience:
- In Canada
- In a single eligible physician occupation
- Under one of the three eligible 2021 National Occupational Classification codes
- In accordance with the requirements stated in the invitation-round instructions
The experience does not need to be continuous.
Eligible Physician Occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
Experience in another healthcare occupation does not automatically qualify a candidate for this physician-specific category.
IRCC maintains a broader healthcare and social services category that covers additional professions. However, that is a separate category with its own occupation list and invitation rounds.
Candidates should verify their eligibility through IRCC’s official category-based selection requirements.
Express Entry Eligibility Is Still Required
Qualifying physician experience alone is not enough to receive an invitation.
A candidate must also be eligible for at least one of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
The candidate must have an active Express Entry profile and satisfy all requirements contained in the instructions for the specific round.
IRCC then ranks eligible candidates according to their CRS scores and invites the highest-ranking candidates within the selected category.
A physician who has the required Canadian work experience but is not eligible for an Express Entry-managed program cannot receive an invitation through this category.
Why Was the CRS Cutoff Comparatively Low?
A CRS score of 198 may appear low compared with recent Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee Program draws. However, scores from different round types should not be compared as though the candidates were selected from the same group.
In this round, IRCC considered only Express Entry candidates who met the physician-category requirements. The CRS cutoff therefore reflects the ranking of eligible candidates within that targeted group.
The score does not create a general Express Entry threshold of 198. A person with the same score but without qualifying Canadian physician experience would not have been eligible for this round.
Licensing and Immigration Are Separate Processes
Immigration eligibility does not replace medical licensing requirements.
To practise medicine in Canada, internationally trained physicians generally need to:
- Have their foreign credentials assessed
- Satisfy the requirements of the appropriate medical regulator
- Obtain authorization or a licence from the province or territory where they intend to work
- Meet any applicable examination, training, language or supervised-practice requirements
An invitation to apply for permanent residence does not itself authorize a person to practise medicine.
Likewise, holding a provincial or territorial medical licence does not automatically guarantee eligibility for permanent residence.
IRCC provides an overview of immigration options for medical doctors with experience in Canada.
Always Canada Group’s earlier guide to the Express Entry pathway for physicians with Canadian experience provides additional background on the category.
An Invitation Is Not Permanent Residence Approval
An invitation to apply allows the candidate to submit an electronic application for permanent residence. It does not mean that permanent residence has already been approved.
IRCC will verify whether the applicant:
- Was eligible for the physician category
- Had the CRS score claimed in the profile
- Was eligible for an Express Entry-managed program
- Completed the required Canadian work experience
- Selected the correct NOC code
- Performed the duties associated with the claimed occupation
- Provided complete and accurate documents
- Meets medical, criminal and security admissibility requirements
If the evidence does not support the information declared in the Express Entry profile, the application may be refused.
Providing false or misleading information can also create a risk of a misrepresentation finding.
Recalculate the CRS Score Before Applying
Invited candidates should recalculate their CRS score using the circumstances that existed when the invitation was issued.
Factors that may change a score or affect eligibility include:
- Expired language test results
- New language test results
- Changes in employment
- Incorrect work-experience dates or hours
- An incorrect NOC classification
- Changes in marital status
- The birth of a child
- Changes involving an accompanying spouse or partner
- Expired immigration documents
- Incorrectly claimed education or Canadian experience
A change does not automatically make the candidate ineligible, but it must be reviewed and disclosed accurately.
If the corrected score falls below 198 or the candidate no longer qualifies for the selected category or federal program, submitting the application without addressing the issue may result in refusal.
Application Deadline and Documents
Candidates who receive an Express Entry invitation generally have 60 calendar days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence.
The exact deadline displayed in the candidate’s IRCC account is controlling.
IRCC creates a personalized document checklist. Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, documents may include:
- Passports and civil-status records
- Language test results
- Educational credentials and assessments
- Medical licensing or registration records
- Canadian employment reference letters
- Contracts, pay records and tax documents
- Evidence of duties, hours and employment dates
- Police certificates
- Medical examination information
- Documents for accompanying family members
- Proof of immigration status and work authorization
- Proof of funds when required under the applicable federal program
Applicants should follow their personalized checklist instead of relying only on a general online document list.
Practical Next Steps for Invited Physicians
- Confirm that the invitation identifies the physicians with Canadian work experience category.
- Verify eligibility for an Express Entry-managed program.
- Confirm at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian physician experience during the previous three years.
- Verify the correct NOC code and compare declared duties with the official NOC description.
- Recalculate the CRS score as of September 3, 2026.
- Confirm that language test results and other time-limited documents remain valid.
- Review every answer transferred from the Express Entry profile.
- Request detailed employment evidence from Canadian employers or health authorities.
- Begin obtaining police certificates and other time-sensitive documents.
- Review the personalized IRCC checklist carefully.
- Disclose material changes in employment, status or family composition.
- Submit the complete application before the deadline shown in the IRCC account.
- Save copies of the application, supporting evidence and payment receipt.
Physicians seeking an individual assessment can book a consultation with Always Canada Group.
If You Were Not Invited
A physician who was not selected generally remains in the Express Entry pool while the profile is valid and the candidate continues to meet the applicable requirements.
Candidates can:
- Keep their profile accurate and current
- Update additional qualifying work experience
- Improve English or French language scores
- Add completed education where eligible
- Monitor document expiry dates
- Research provincial immigration pathways for physicians
- Review whether they qualify for another Express Entry category
- Follow future IRCC invitation rounds
The CRS cutoff of 198 applies only to the September 3 physician round. It does not guarantee the same cutoff or another physician-specific selection in the future.
Key Takeaway
IRCC invited 229 physicians with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence on September 3, 2026. The minimum CRS score was 198.
Eligible candidates required at least 12 months of Canadian experience during the previous three years in one of three specified physician occupations. They also needed to qualify for an Express Entry-managed program.
Invited physicians should now confirm their work experience, NOC classification, CRS score and supporting documents before submitting a complete application within the deadline shown in their IRCC account.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Express Entry, professional licensing and document requirements can change. Verify current instructions with IRCC and the appropriate provincial or territorial medical regulator before acting.
